The Southern Illinois Miners have announced that their, ace Ryan Bird, will return in 2010 for his third season with the ballclub. The 25-year-old righty is the team’s all-time leader in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched
“I’m excited to be back,” Bird said. “The fans in Southern Illinois are great, and if you look at the offseason moves, we should have a good team and a good season this year.”
He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization following the 2008 season and spent that offseason pitching for the Cardinals winter league team in Columbia. He rejoined the Miners after he was released during the final week of Cardinals spring training.
Bird won his first six decisions in 2009 to extend his personal winning streak to a Frontier League record 17 games. Despite battling fatigue from a busy offseason, he still posted nine wins, a 3.48 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 106 innings as the Miners finished the season one game out of a playoff spot.